Fever show their experience in playoff-opening romp of Chicago

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ROSEMONT, Ill – They were relieved that they qualified for the playoffs after an injury-riddled season, yet the Fever were confident at the same time.

As the defending WNBA champions, they knew that experience could be a major advantage they would have over many teams still left in the playoffs. That included their first round opponent the Chicago Sky, who were making their WNBA Playoffs debut this season.

Indeed experience has proven to be valuable for Indiana early in the postseason as Lin Dunn’s team raced past the Eastern Conference’s top-seeded Sky 85-72 in Game One of the best-of-three first round series Friday night at Allstate Arena.

With the victory the Fever are just one win away from the Eastern Conference Finals and they can clinch it with a win in Game Two Sunday at Bankers Life Fieldhouse at 3 P.M.

Guard Shavonte Zellous led the Fever with 20 points while forward Karima Christmas and guard Briann January had 16 each. The Fever were able to play this well despite not having forward Katie Douglas, who sat out with nagging lower back pain.

The Fever jumped out to a 13-point halftime lead and the Sky could never make a run to answer despite 20 points from Elena Delle Donne.